Lesson 3 Key Human Issues: Disaster, Disease, and Famine
A. Overall Lesson Objective
•To understand that God is aware of our position and how we conduct our life, even if we are found in harsh circumstances like disaster, famine, and disease.
B. Learning Competencies
•The consequences of sin, which have their origin in the Fall of Man at the beginning, are especially painful and hard when we observe the history and effects of disaster, disease, and famine. Yet, our Creator God is not oblivious to these conditions or the people in them.
•The eternal and manifold capacity of God becomes apparent when one realizes that the Word shows examples of His awareness, oversight, and use of dangerous and hard conditions—whether we are subject to them or in a position to assist others in them.
•The issue for disaster, disease, and famine may yield the question, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ The more appropriate question, with a biblical world view in mind, is this, ‘Why shouldn’t they happen to me? Therefore, how do I handle my life in their presence?’
C. Lesson
Overview
Events involving disaster, disease, and famine are mentioned in the Bible. Recall the power and oversight capability of God that was introduced in Lesson 1. He knows what we are like and what we experience. He also uses circumstances to get our attention: both to correct and to show His love (Job 33:29-30; 37:13). These scriptures are very uncomfortable to consider in modern times. Throughout history, however, extreme events happen. How can we live through them? If things happen in regions or nations—good or bad—leaders will occasionally call upon people to pray, call for a period of fasting, and rise to help those that are desperate. On occasion, a leader will even consider it a God-given task to care for others. Sometimes people help each other in disaster, disease and famine; sometimes they do not. God has something to say about these kinds of circumstances and how we might respond to them.
Examples from Scripture
Here are five examples from the Word that illustrate God’s working in circumstances involving disaster, disease, and famine:
1.Famine and thirst were used to drive people to God in Amos 4.
2.Job endured incredible suffering that seemed to be for no reason except that God provides a record of the real story in Job 1 and 2.
3.Affliction shows the needs of our hearts and causes us to make decisions. Ten lepers came to Jesus to be healed in Luke 17:11-17. They were outcasts because of their disease. After their healings, only one returned to give thanks. God comments about the one but also about the others. He does not forget the toil of disease but recognizes that His touch also causes decisions: we give credit to God or do not. He remembers what decisions and statements we make—even in the presence of disease.
4.The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-47 is a very well-known story but always worth reading again. God provided the story in much detail. Note the conditions that changed in the life of Joseph, the circumstances that led to Joseph’s position of power, and the wisdom that he obtained from God to save his family in a famine that was not foreseen at the beginning. You will begin to realize the amazing web of circumstances that God used to accomplish His purposes. Read Genesis 45:4-8 to see Joseph’s conclusion for the years of hardship. While originally intended for evil, God used them for good. One can go further: the very saving of this family leads to another generation and another leader in Egypt that culminated in a famous set of circumstances in the life of Moses. God has not changed; He is detailed in His concerns today when there is disaster, famine or disease, just as He was detailed in the lives of the first generations of people in Genesis. He uses them for His purposes.
5.Jesus points to the substance of believers’ true faith in God by showing contrasting lifestyles in Matthew 25:31-46. Some people believe; some people say they have faith, but their actions do not match their words. God sees the difference as a shepherd who is able to clearly divide sheep from goats. The circumstances are people in need of food, clothing, shelter, or visitation because they are sick or in prison. People who say they are believers and address the needs of the least of these are considered sheep. People who say they are believers and do nothing are called goats. The judge of the situation is God. So, people who are true believers are meant to address people suffering from disaster, disease, and famine if they possibly can. God sees both the circumstance of those in need and the circumstances of those who might address that need.
What are We to Do?
Only God can fully oversee and use the harsh circumstances of a fallen world to accomplish His will. It is the God of Creation who does this and identifies with people in such circumstances. Human suffering cries for solutions to difficult human circumstances. They will continue. What we do and how we respond in them, however, make a difference if we believe, see and act from a biblical creation view. We can recognize that we are in a fallen world (a consequence of the actions of people) but hold to the realization that God sees and uses all circumstances to accomplish His will. He knows the end from the beginning and will not forget our frailty.
D. Assignment
How far back we see, how aware we are of the present, and how far forward we can see require being alert. Explain the common factor in these verses that makes us aware of our life in terms of time. Check Proverbs 10:27 and Psalm 90:11,12.
E. Learning Activity
Using the results of the homework assignment, the teacher will post significant events noted from the answers from students. Record date, type of event, location, and number of people affected. How prevalent are these events, judging from the posted results?
F. Concluding Assessment
God is aware of our circumstances and whether they involved disaster, disease, or hunger (famine).